Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento State's health sciences program punches significantly above its weight, placing graduates in the 88th percentile nationally for earnings while keeping debt exceptionally low at just $14,449—nearly half the national median. Starting at $44,162 and climbing to $58,360 within four years, these graduates earn more than most peers from pricier private institutions, including several that charge two or three times as much. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33 means graduates owe roughly four months' salary, making this one of the more financially manageable pathways into allied health careers.

The 60th percentile ranking among California programs deserves context: while Sacramento State trails National University and San Francisco State, it outperforms most other CSU campuses in this field and does so at a fraction of the cost. That $14,000 debt figure puts it in the 95th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of similar programs leave students with more debt. For nearly half of students receiving Pell grants, this combination of strong earnings potential and minimal debt burden is particularly meaningful.

This is exactly the kind of program anxious parents should feel confident about. Your child can enter a growing healthcare field with solid earning potential and minimal financial stress, all from a school with a 94% admission rate that doesn't require perfect grades to access opportunity.